FOIL!

FOIL! Foil characters are the best.

What is a foil character? According to Wikipedia, a foil character is "either one who is opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. The purpose of the foil character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by contrast, and perhaps by setting up situations in which the protagonist can show his or her character traits. A foil is a secondary character who contrasts with a major character but, in so doing, highlights various facets of the main character's personality." Basically, a foil character is a contrast to another character.

Examples are Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Ismene and Antigone, Frodo and Sam, Luke and Han Solo etc.

So, how do your characters foil? And what traits do these foils bring out?

I have one foil character, Claire. She's the main character's brother and will make him remember how much he loves the other main character, she brings out the humanity in the thousand year old vampire.

Jeremy is my foil character. He is pretty much Morgan's sidekick, who reminds Melania that Morgan isn't as annoying as most boys by being unbelievably annoying. =)

Shea is the foil to Pearl. When Shea is gone, Tristram is. Or something. *remains confused*

Danteel and Pran are foils, as are Danteel and Lark. The funny thing is, Pran and Lark are NOTHING alike...

I have too many foils for my own good.

Strick and Criscialda are foils
Creiha and Criscialda are foils
Strick and Creiha are foils
Creiha and Lusien are foils
Strick and Lusien are foils
Creiha and Coglia are foils
Strick and Coglia are foils
Criscialda and Coglia are foils
Markus and Gietan are foils
Liehne and Criscialda are foils

etc.

The Raven is foil to someone else - someone very important. A princess, in fact. At first, the Raven was going to be a MAIN main character, the one who does the action and fighting and all, but then I thought, Well, I've always liked the sidekicks best, so why not write a sidekick who's a main character in their own right as well? The sidekicks always seem to be the amusing ones, like Donkey as opposed to Shrek, Mushu to Mulan, Han to Luke. Is Will supposed to be a sidekick to Jack, or is it the other way around?

The twins in Bubble Picture are foils. Tip's so lazy and likes sleeping- his twin would rather jump around and find out why! They're complete and total mysteries to each other. It's rather funny. XD

Kasper and Seth are foils. Seth is curious and lacks common sense whereas Kasper doesn't delve into anyhting more than he needs to and annoys Seth a lot with his calm demenour and his utter perfectness. (is that a word?)

Gwen and her best friend, Stuart, are foils. I never thought of it. Gwen is in-your-face all over the place, but Stuart (he needs another name change - I can't take him seriously) is laid-back and steady.

Coden and Tuvil are foils. Coden is very dedicated and serious, and keeps to himself. Tuvil is a jokester, a flirt, and likes to be around anyone and keeps everyones sanity.

Coden and Tuvil are foils. Coden is very dedicated and serious, and keeps to himself. Tuvil is a jokester, a flirt, and likes to be around anyone and keeps everyones sanity.

Tamia and Elyn. Tamia is a suspicious, distrusting character, Always questioning other's intentions and isn't a social creature at all.

Elyn, on the other hand, is small, loud, confident, cheeky and a attention seeker. A bit cocky, too.

-from tamia's quest, by the way